Watervale (USA)
1908 – October 1921
Watercress (GB) x Lady Violet (USA), by The Ill-Used (GB)
Family 4-r
1908 – October 1921
Watercress (GB) x Lady Violet (USA), by The Ill-Used (GB)
Family 4-r
Now considered the middle jewel of the American Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes did not carry nearly so much prestige in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It began building its modern reputation after being moved back from New York (where it was run in 1890-1908) to its native Maryland. In the 1911 edition, Watervale set his third of three consecutive Pimlico track records but failed to win another major race afterward although he set a Canadian record for 9 furlongs later in his 3-year-old season. He was a winner in Canada at 4 but went lame in July, and an attempt to bring him back at 5 ended in another injury. He left no mark as a sire.
Race record
Complete record unavailable
1910:
1911:
1912:
As an individual
A bay horse, Watervale was said to be a large, good-looking animal but did not have the best of action. He generally did his best running when allowed to dictate matters on the front end. He went blind before being euthanized in October 1921.
As a stallion
Clio Hogan’s Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits Watervale with having sired two stakes winners.
Connections
Watervale was bred and owned by August Belmont II. He was trained by Tom Welsh and John Whelan during his career. He was ridden to his Preakness win by Eddie Dugan. He entered stud at Belmont’s Nursery Stud but ended his days at the Military Stock Farm, where he was euthanized in October 1921 after going blind.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1892 Prince of Wales's Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes winner Watercress, Watervale is inbred 4x4 to English dual Classic winner and seven-time English leading sire Stockwell, 4x5 to the great foundation mare Queen Mary, 4x5 to the mare Maid of Palmyra, and 5x5 to 1844 Derby Stakes winner and three-time English champion sire Orlando. He is a half brother to 1904 Saratoga Handicap winner Lord of the Vale (by Hastings) and to multiple stakes winner Lady of the Valley (by St. Saviour), dam of Canadian stakes winner Lochiel (by Hastings). He is also a half brother to Lady of the Vale (by Rayon d’Or), dam of the good French racer and useful sire Vulcain (by Rock Sand) and to Lady Vincent (by St. Blaise), dam of juvenile stakes winners Ting-a-Ling (by Star Shoot) and Waukeag (by Ogden). In addition, Watervale is a half brother to Violet Ray (by Rock Sand), second dam of 1936 Aqueduct Handicap and Manhattan Handicap winner Action.
Watervale’s dam, Lady Violet, is a full sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Lady Margaret, dam of 1896 Preakness Stakes winner Margrave (by St. Blaise), 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman (by Hastings), multiple juvenile stakes winner Magistrate (by Hastings), and juvenile stakes winner Lady Marian (by Hastings); second dam of the top sprinter Old Koenig; and third dam of 1921 American co-champion handicap male Mad Hatter and 1924 Belmont Stakes winner Mad Play. Lady Violet is also a full sister to Lady Primrose, second dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Fort Hunter and 1904 Queens County Handicap winner Rosetint.
Lady Rosebery, the dam of Lady Violet and her siblings, won the 1880 Champagne Stakes. She is a full sister to 1884 Ladies’ Handicap and Monmouth Oaks winner Duchess, dam of two-time American champion Clifford (by Bramble) and juvenile stakes winner Archduke (by Luke Blackburn). She is also a half sister to stakes winner The Countess (by Kentucky), second dam of multiple stakes winner Patrician. Lady Rosebery, in turn, is out of Lady Blessington (by Eclipse). The next dam in Watervale’s tail-female line is Philo, by Mariner out of the Priam mare Cassandra.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 2, 2024
Race record
Complete record unavailable
1910:
- 3rd Grand Union Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1911:
- Won Preakness (USA, 9FD, Pimlico; new track record 1:51)
- Won Driving Park Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico; equaled track record 1:12-1/5)
- 2nd Wentworth Plate (CAN, 6FD, Hamilton)
- 3rd Prince of Wales Handicap (CAN, 6FD, Woodbine; third of 3)
- Also set a new track record of 1:42-2/5 for a mile and 60 yards at Pimlico
- Also equaled the track record of 1:52-1/5 for 9 furlongs at Blue Bonnets
- Also set a new Canadian record of 1:50-2/5 for 9 furlongs at Fort Erie
1912:
- 2nd Oriole Handicap (USA, 7FD, Pimlico)
As an individual
A bay horse, Watervale was said to be a large, good-looking animal but did not have the best of action. He generally did his best running when allowed to dictate matters on the front end. He went blind before being euthanized in October 1921.
As a stallion
Clio Hogan’s Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits Watervale with having sired two stakes winners.
Connections
Watervale was bred and owned by August Belmont II. He was trained by Tom Welsh and John Whelan during his career. He was ridden to his Preakness win by Eddie Dugan. He entered stud at Belmont’s Nursery Stud but ended his days at the Military Stock Farm, where he was euthanized in October 1921 after going blind.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1892 Prince of Wales's Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes winner Watercress, Watervale is inbred 4x4 to English dual Classic winner and seven-time English leading sire Stockwell, 4x5 to the great foundation mare Queen Mary, 4x5 to the mare Maid of Palmyra, and 5x5 to 1844 Derby Stakes winner and three-time English champion sire Orlando. He is a half brother to 1904 Saratoga Handicap winner Lord of the Vale (by Hastings) and to multiple stakes winner Lady of the Valley (by St. Saviour), dam of Canadian stakes winner Lochiel (by Hastings). He is also a half brother to Lady of the Vale (by Rayon d’Or), dam of the good French racer and useful sire Vulcain (by Rock Sand) and to Lady Vincent (by St. Blaise), dam of juvenile stakes winners Ting-a-Ling (by Star Shoot) and Waukeag (by Ogden). In addition, Watervale is a half brother to Violet Ray (by Rock Sand), second dam of 1936 Aqueduct Handicap and Manhattan Handicap winner Action.
Watervale’s dam, Lady Violet, is a full sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Lady Margaret, dam of 1896 Preakness Stakes winner Margrave (by St. Blaise), 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman (by Hastings), multiple juvenile stakes winner Magistrate (by Hastings), and juvenile stakes winner Lady Marian (by Hastings); second dam of the top sprinter Old Koenig; and third dam of 1921 American co-champion handicap male Mad Hatter and 1924 Belmont Stakes winner Mad Play. Lady Violet is also a full sister to Lady Primrose, second dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Fort Hunter and 1904 Queens County Handicap winner Rosetint.
Lady Rosebery, the dam of Lady Violet and her siblings, won the 1880 Champagne Stakes. She is a full sister to 1884 Ladies’ Handicap and Monmouth Oaks winner Duchess, dam of two-time American champion Clifford (by Bramble) and juvenile stakes winner Archduke (by Luke Blackburn). She is also a half sister to stakes winner The Countess (by Kentucky), second dam of multiple stakes winner Patrician. Lady Rosebery, in turn, is out of Lady Blessington (by Eclipse). The next dam in Watervale’s tail-female line is Philo, by Mariner out of the Priam mare Cassandra.
Fun facts
- Watervale’s racing career was impacted by the New York racing blackout of 1911-1913, which left only Kentucky, Maryland, and Canada conducting racing above the fairground and bush track level east of the Mississippi in North America. Belmont considered sending him to England at the end of 1911 but apparently did not follow through with this plan.
Last updated: July 2, 2024